Penitentiary Definition
pĕnĭ-tĕnshə-rē
penitentiaries
noun
penitentiaries
A prison.
Webster's New World
A state or federal prison for persons convicted of serious crimes.
Webster's New World
An office or tribunal headed by a cardinal (Grand Penitentiary) and dealing with matters of penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, etc.
Webster's New World
A priest whose special function is the administration of the sacrament of penance in a particular church or diocese.
American Heritage
A penal institution that is intended for long-term confinement of convicted criminals. See also jail.
Webster's New World Law
adjective
Of or for penance.
Webster's New World
Used in punishing, disciplining, and reforming.
Webster's New World
Making one liable to imprisonment in a penitentiary.
Webster's New World
Of or in a penitentiary.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Penitentiary
Noun
Singular:
penitentiary
Plural:
penitentiariesOrigin of Penitentiary
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Middle English penitenciarie penance officer, episcopal prison from Medieval Latin pēnitentiāria feminine of pēnitentiārius from Latin paenitentia penitence from paenitēns penitent penitent
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Medieval Latin penitentiaria (“place of penitence"), term used by the Quakers in Pennsylvania during the 1790s, describing a place for penitents to dwell upon their sins.
From Wiktionary
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